Letter: Let COVID-19 inform need for action on climate change

Tuesday

May 5, 2020 at 4:40 PM

May 3 -- To the Editor:

COVID-19 is disrupting our lives, killing people and nearly shutting down our economy. It is a study in failure to plan. Meanwhile, climate change is happening with the prospect of even bigger impacts. Experts tell us that it is six times more expensive to react to a crisis than to plan for it.

Both COVID-19 and climate change are impacting our health and our economy. About 80% of deaths have occurred in areas of compromised air quality. Poor air quality from fossil fuels, without COVID-19, is responsible for 200,000 deaths each year. COVID -9 has already largely shut down our economy and generated massive unemployment. Locally, climate change is likely to cause $650 million in residential real estate losses on NH’s tiny Seacoast by 2035. Meanwhile the Gulf of Maine is one of the fastest warming bodies of water on the entire planet, threatening lobsters, cod fish and many other species.

It was the scientists who alerted us to the realities of climate change. It is the economists who are giving us a blueprint to address it. 3,500 economists have spoken out saying, put a steadily rising price on fossil fuels by extracting a fee at the source, the mine or well. Then, distribute those funds to households keeping money in the economy so that jobs are created, and ordinary citizens are financially protected. The Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act (EICDA) now in the US House of Representatives follows this approach and will reduce emissions by 40% in 12 years, generate 2 million jobs and be revenue neutral for the average citizen.

What is missing is public action on behalf of this legislation. The simplest action is to have conversations for solving climate change, not just adapting to it. One of the most highly leveraged places to have such a conversation is with our Members of Congress. Chellie Pingree of Maine is already a co-sponsor of EICDA. Chris Pappas is not. Another action is to join Citizens’ Climate Lobby (cclusa.org), a passionately bipartisan, grassroots organization creating the political will for a livable planet. When voices speak together, they are magnified.

Wes Tator, Leader, Seacoast Chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby

Portsmouth

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